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Mountains

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I always spend my holiday in the mountains, but I find that the Scottish Highlands are the most beautiful that I have ever visited. Here most of the people live near or on the coast or beside "lochs". The Scottish word for lakes is"lochs". In the mountains it can be very cold, but on the west coast the climate is warmer because of the Gulf Stream. In some places that are situated on the west coast, like Inverewe Gardens, for example, you can find semitropical plants which I find very beautiful.

Off the west coast there are many islands. One of the most famous is Skye. The Isle of Skye can offer you an interesting attraction. You can find different boats for bareboat charter and of course, you can enjoy the natural beauty of Highlands by making a trip by boat. Many people here are crofters, with small farms. A few people in the island speak Gaelic, this unique Celtic language. Quite a lot of efforts is being made to keep the language and culture alive. More and more people go to evening classes to learn the language.

One of the smallest islands is Staffa, which inspires the composer Mendelson to write his famous and wonderful overture " The Hebrides". By visiting Staffa Isle, be sure that you will not forget to see the cave which "columns" lead you directly into the darkness. Be careful in the cave it is very high and deep. Everybody is fascinated by entering it. The atmosphere in the cave is quiet different from that one outside it.

People of Scotland deeply cherish their customs and traditions. Call a Scotsman an Englishman and he probably will not like it. For these proud Scots the traditions and the customs of their country are very important. Traditional games, like throwing the hammer and tossing the caber, can be seen every summer at Highland Games. But the most interesting thing for me is the Highland dancing and the wonderful sound of the bagpipes when they are played. The dancers and the players wear their national costumes. These are skirts (in Scottish-kilts) which are made of colorful tartans. The Scots like their tartants and are proud of them because the tartants are a sign of their identity to the clan. The word "clan" means family.

Learn more about this author, Roumyana Demireva.
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